NEED HELP PLEASE !!! -- Louisville KY area

[dlandersson]

My X is slipped in Michigan City, Indiana.

It's more than 2 hours, but I'd be g;lad to show you around the boat, etc.

Hi, well i did it purchased a 26x.had the trailer break an axle on the way home ,had to have the boat trailered home on a roll back truck,bought a new venture trailer . it floats had it in the water sunday motor works, had the mast up and main sail up, i don't know how to us the genoa sail with the rollar furling device, didn't sail the boat why, i don't know anything about sailing or boats, very limited boat experience , would love a local to share some of there knowledge, it gets better i am leaving to go to the keys sunday with the 26x. as you can tell i like to jumping with both feet

[Obelix]

Here is an important advice, I was missing before:
NEVER ATTEMPT TO SAIL WITH AN EMPTY OR ONLY PARTLY FILLED WATERBALLAST
Best to keep your ballast full at any time you're in the water, even motoring. Many power boaters will not give any consideration to you and their wake can shake you massively.
Always err on the side of caution

Obelix

[Ixneigh]

I live in the keys. It's very busy here during weekends like now. It's also been extremely hot. It's the worst time to be dealing with a new boat. It might work if you got here a week early but the local ramps are going to be pretty jammed up.
Ix

[TheJoe]

There is a ton of sailing on the river in Louisville. Find the websites and facebook pages. They have races every weekend and every Wednesday night as I'm sure you are (should be) aware.
You should easily be able to find someone to crew for and start learning. I'm an hour and a half west in Owensboro.

Take the advice given here and stay out of the ocean at least until you are familiar with your boat and know how to handle the conditions you might encounter on blue water. If you were too scared to raise sails on the ohio, you don't need to be on the ocean.

Take a charter, learn the area.

[Herschel]

i am leaving to go to the keys sunday with the 26x. as you can tell i like to jumping with both feet

I whole heartedly recommend the caution that others have offered on this site. I don't think any of us would have attempted to do what you are doing early in our boating life with the Mac 26's. Keep in mind that a few novices to these boats have drowned in them. But, if you do forge ahead anyway, I would recommend that you follow these few rules: (1) keep your ballast tank full at all times, (2) don't go out in winds over 15 knots, preferably 12 for starters, (3) stay on the gulf side of the keys (water is shallower there but you should be able to find some deeper water if you check the charts) at least until you have learned how to sail, (4) don't overload the boat (six adults max) and please, no children on this venture), but be sure and tell your passengers that you are a novice sailor, and, (5) please stay sober at all times while boating ( I know that runs counter to the mystique of the keys, but despite the rep, the rules for life are essentially the same in the keys as elsewhere!) If you are traveling through Orlando on the way, I might be able to give you a sailing lesson on my 26X as you go through. Depends on our schedules, the weather, and when you plan on going through. I am a US Sailing level 1 small boat instructor, and I have had my Mac 26X for 11 years.

[mastreb]

Don't try to sail. You'll have your hands full just learning to maneuver the boat. Top up the gas tank and just motor.

Keep your speed below 7 miles an hour until you know the boat. A knot is basically the same as miles per hour.

Open the ballast tank. This is the valve on the back end of boat. There's another valve either under the ladder steps in the cabin or all the way forward under the V-bed that has a plug. Pull that plug out. When that valve stops blowing air, the tank is full and you can plug it and shut the valve. This tank keeps the boat from tipping over, so be sure you do it. When you pull out, open it up and let all the water out on the ramp.

These boats are more complicated that powerboats AND more complicated than sailboats. READ THE MANUAL you can download it here.

Ask all the questions you want, we'll answer them.

Post all the crap that went wrong when you get back--we like a good laugh!

[Herschel]

I know we gave you a lot of grief about taking your boat to the keys for a maiden voyage, but I am curious how things went for you. Would you care to give us some feedback?